BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Airnimal
The Airnimal Joey is a folding bike designed and assembled in Britain. Pitched as a high performing all-rounder, from sports to commuter and touring, the Joey works well with two wheel sizes – fat profile (24-inch ISO-507) for the city or trail, or narrow profile (24-inch ISO -520) high pressure for speed. All Airnimals are fitted with high quality standard components, BikeBiz is told, so dealers or customers can upgrade easily.
The Joey has two levels of fold, with the first taking about 30 seconds and with the addition of the Commuter kit (except for some bar configurations) will leave you with a contained package that can either be picked up with one hand, or wheeled. There is also the Joey bag, specifically designed to fit this fold. The second level of fold takes a few minutes, depending on the accessories fitted, and gets the bike small enough to fit into Airnimal’s dedicated Traveller case.
The Airnimal Joey models starts from £999 RRP. Find out more from Cyclecentric directly on info@cyclecentric.com or on
01954 782020
Tern
This urban bike brand has a number of ranges, including the Verge (20-inch wheel) models: X30h, X20, X10, S11i and Duo. Priced between £650 and £2,000 and aimed at performance riders, Verge bikes feature hydroformed, super-stiff and lightweight frames, and high level components. The Link range (20-inch wheel) bikes include the P9, P7i, P24h, D8, D7i, Uno and C7 models. Link bikes are priced between £330 and £775 and are designed for daily commuters looking for easy folding, a great ride experience and value. Swoop (20-inch wheel) bikes have, new for 2013, an RRP of £750, offering comfort, convenience and a relaxed ride for “well-travelled” riders, with a low-step frame. Eclipse (24-inch wheel) bikes combine small wheeled convenience with full-sized ride quality, says Tern. New models coming to the UK this year include the X20, S11i and P9. Finally, Joe (26-inch wheel) bikes come in models P24, D24 and C21, priced between £375 and £575. These are full-size bikes that fold in half for easier storage and transportation.
There’s also a full line of accessories. To find out about the bikes or becoming a dealer contact Mark Bickerton at Cyclemotion mark.bickerton@ternbicycles.com; 01580 755633
Raleigh
Raleigh is the UK distributor of folding bike specialist Dahon. One of the latest models from the brand is the Mu P27, made from a sturdy aluminum frame and an assortment of quality components. Combining a SRAM X7 derailleur with the newest version of the SRAM Dual Drive II 3 x 9 rear hub, Mu P27 is pitched at riders seeking a bike that performs for a variety of different riding styles. It folds in as little as 15 seconds, Dahon says, and retails at £770.00.
Dahon’s Jifo 16 stands for compact size, fast assembly and easy means of transportation. This ultra-compact bike is the ideal for daily commutes by bus, train or tube. The Jifo is uber fast at folding – in just seven second due to ‘longitudinal folding frame latch technology’. The telescopic bimodal bar seatpost adjusts with the folding of the bike and after folding, the saddle still can be used for balance or as a chair. RRP is £600.00.
01773 532600
2×2
Montague has an updated Boston 8 for 2013. This year there’s a rim upgrade, a nicer tyre selection and – most importantly – a lighter, more rigid version of the well known patented folding frame giving an 11 per cent weight saving over previous models (£999.99 at retail).
Also available via 2×2 is a new 700c Land Rover folder, complementing the existing two 20-inch wheel folders and the 26-inch wheel folder already in the range.
Meanwhile, the City X-Elite features 21 speed STI shifting, a front disc and the ability to pack it away into a carry bag (which is supplied) and stow it in the boot of the car/train luggage rack/cupboard in the motorhome or boat/cupboard under the stairs, etc. According to 2×2 it’s much better than a 20-inch wheel for longer distances and much more efficient than a 26-inch wheel for tarmac, green lanes, towpaths etc. RRP is £399.99 and more details can be sought at 01827 331099
Bigfish
In 2013 Big Fish will be introducing a new suite of next generation Bigfish bikes. Having launched the first generation some years ago, and after a hefty R&D investment, it is bringing out an entirely new range of bikes with improved folding mechanism, better components and a plusher finish. Central to both new models is the simplicity of the fold. Operated by buttons, this is a unique patented folding system, designed to be intuitive, and with no right or wrong order for the folding process. The folded Bigfish can also be rolled upright when folded, making it easy to navigate crowded areas where you can’t ride the bike, for example railway platforms. It’s also a very slim folded package that makes storage easy.
The Bigfish Line is stylish spin on the brand, while the Wave is a re-energised version of the Bigfish design. There’s also a compact folding e-bike in the works too, names the Bigfish Line+.
info@bigfishbike.com
Brompton
One of the best known operators in the sector, Brompton’s UK-made line of folding bikes uses a compact, practical fold which, with a little practice, can be achieved within 20 seconds. When folded, it carries like a small suitcase, with small rollers allowing the bike to be pushed into inaccessible corners. Every bike is, of course, build by hand from scratch in London, so bikes can be made bespoke to the riders requirements, from colours and finish, to seatpost height, suspension, saddle and more. There’s also an increasingly wide range of accessories, with the clever award winning tool kit a recent highlight. There’s more at
020 8232 8484
Fisher Outdoor Leisure
Fisher’s folding house brand is UK-designed Kansi. Folding in less than ten mechanism – the quickest mechanism on the market, says the brand (though others in this feature would disagree) – there are three models available in the simple range, available in two colours.
First up is the 1 twenty (£525). The lightest bike in the range, this ride is pitched at simple cross town journeys and canal path rides, with a single speed coaster brake and simple, clean lines. The 3 twenty (£725) has a SRAM 3 speed internal hub for low maintenance. Finally, the 9 twenty (£875) has a nine speed drivetrain, the widest range of gears in the range, built to tackle any uphill or downhill ride. www.kansi.co.uk
Mobiky
Mobiky offers five folding bike models, three of which are electric. The non-electric versions are the Louis 16 and Steve 16, both sporting light aluminium frame and forks, V-brakes and Nexus roller brakes. The e-bike models – the Youris – are all 16-inchers, two with 3-speed (one with 5,5Ah and the other with 11AH) while the final Youri is an 8-speed version (also 11AH). The e-bikes come with Schwalbe or Kenda tyres and range in RRP from €1,595 to €1,950.
The Louis, Steve and Youris are the latest from a line that started in 2004 with the Genius. More info at
www.mobiky.com
iSkute
iSkute stocks e-bike folder 9transport. Available in four colours – red, white, black and blue – the bike has a foldable 6062 aluminium frame, 20-inch spoked alloy wheels, seven-speed Shimano thumb shifts and V-brakes front and rear. Moving on to the electric aspect of the bike, the model sports a 250w brushless motor and 36v battery. That translates to 55kms on one charge – dependent on the effort put in – and a four-to-six hour charge time. RRP is £1,200. More details available directly from iSkute.
01803 558885
Tiger Cycles
The new Tiger Cycles Foldaway 2013 has been upgraded to offer more features than ever before seen on a budget price folding bike, Tiger confidently claims. A new aluminium height adjustable folding handlebar stem has been introduced in conjunction with a very low step through frame to suit all heights of rider. Other features include a sealed cartridge bottom bracket, full Shimano gears with six speed revo-shift, twin wall alloy rims, a super comfort sprung saddle, mudguards and carrier and the list goes on. For full details call 01683 220837 or visit www.tigercycles.com
